Books are food for my soul! Pull up a beach chair and stick your toes in the sand as the Jersey surf rolls in and out, now open your book and let your imagination take you away.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Flirting With Magick by Leigh Bennett (Author Guest Post / Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes Leigh Bennett, author of Flirting With Magick!






Author Guest Post


I have two typical days. The ideal which happens very occasionally, and the usual, 'real life getting in the way' one.

I'll start with the ideal.

I'll get up at around 6:30 am and shower just before my husband has left for work. He'll have a cup of coffee waiting for me so I sit down at my desk to check up on social media and emails. By the time this is done my three sons will have woken up so it's now time to get them ready for school. They will complete all their before school chores without any arguments or nagging and I'll send them on their way. (Okay, I'm making that bit up)

I'll spend a good few hours working on my WIP, only stopping to eat healthy meals for breakfast and lunch.

Decide it's time to finish the 5000 or so words of my writing for the day and do some tidying up of the house before school finishes.

At around 3 pm I'll head over to the school and catch up with my friends while waiting for the kids to finish their day.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent on helping with reading and homework then I'll cook a nutritious meal for the family before relaxing in front of the TV before bedtime.

In my dreams! Although, if I'm to be completely honest, the above does happen when I'm working towards a deadline, or if taking part in a challenge like Nanowrimo.

The real typical day.

Chances are I would have slept in a bit so I will have to leap out of bed, make myself a cup of coffee and hurry to get the kids their breakfast and make lunches while yelling at them to turn off the TV. They will need constant reminding of their chores but inevitably one will forget to brush their teeth and another will forget to make his bed by the time I'm pushing them out the door.

I'll get another cup of coffee and sit down at my desk, open up my email and Facebook, as well as my work in progress so I can quickly get started. Get involved in a conversation on Facebook but because it's in one of my writing groups, it's relevant. Finish off the conversation but get distracted by something Jared Leto has posted. This is also relevant as he was the inspiration for one of my characters in my current release, Flirting With Magick. After also checking out his Twitter and Instagram, I realize I haven't showered yet so I get up to do so.

On my way back from the shower, I notice the laundry that needs to be done so I put a load on and remind myself that I will need to tidy up the kitchen. I remember that one of the kids forgot to make his bed so I do that for him and pick up the toys on the floor in the bedrooms. Then I remember that I also need to let the chickens out as the kids were arguing over who's turn it was to do it before I pushed them out the door. I notice the chickens hadn't laid eggs in their nest the previous day so I spend some time searching the yard for eggs.

Finally I sit down at the computer and start doing some work in my Work in Progress. I get stuck on some dialogue so I pull up another story I'm doing – a short story for a competition. There are four days until entries need to be in and I'm only a third of the way through the word count limit and haven't referred to the theme word yet. I get stuck and fantasize about what I would do if I won the $5000 prize money – at first I think of a family trip to Fiji but then I begin to think about the repairs needed around the house. This reminds me that I need to put the washing out.

On my way back from laundry, I tidy up the kitchen and make another cup of coffee.

I sit down again, check Facebook to put something up on my author page and see I have about twenty notifications. I go through them all but none are really that important so I open up my novel again. Get through that bit of dialogue I was having trouble with but find the next scene a little difficult. I do some research to get inspired. I feel light headed and realize I'd forgotten to eat so I make a sandwich. Oh, is that Ellen on TV?

I bring the washing in and begin folding the clothes but school's nearly finished so I head out to pick up the kids. I live close enough for them to walk themselves but as writing can be a lonely gig, I go so I can socialize.

I end up spending another hour there after school has finished so I can talk and the kids can play.

I come home and help with homework and reading before I start on dinner. Hubby comes home, we eat, kids have a bath and bedtime. I spend the rest of the evening catching up with my husband as I haven't spoken to him all day, but I'll type up bits and pieces in between our conversation. Oh who am I kidding? There are more Facebook notifications to deal with.

I go to bed in the hope that I'll get more writing done tomorrow. Yes, I'm surprised I got a book finished too!



About The Author



Leigh Bennett is an Australian author who lives in Melbourne’s hilly and rugged outer east with her husband, three sons, a beagle x cavalier dog and five chickens.

Currently a stay at home mother, she has worked in the public service, education, road and music industries.

She enjoys reading, cooking and writing stories full of fun, drama, love and always with a happy ever after.


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Flirting With Magick by Leigh Bennett ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours




Book Review



Flirting With Magick by Leigh Bennett
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: February 14, 2013
Format: Paperback - 330 pages / Kindle - 829 KB / Nook - 2 MB
ISBN: 1482356651
ASIN: B00BF3EGRY
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction


BUY THE BOOK: Flirting With Magick


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.


Book Description:

When a new-age remedy fixes Abby Williams' career rut, the twenty-five year old figures a spell could heal her broken heart too...

Suddenly, she’s having hot sex with an even hotter musician, which might work as long as she doesn’t get in the way of his rock stardom. Her work colleague is flirty and fun, but could he be keeping something from her? And now, the guy who broke her heart wants to rekindle their relationship. Can she trust him enough to give it another shot?

So far, it seems Abby’s spell hasn’t worked. Or then again, perhaps it has?


Book Excerpt:


His familiar silhouette was in the window. Typical, just like Josh to sit where he could see me coming. As I had expected, and before I could change my mind, he looked up and saw me, giving me a wave. I felt his eyes on me as I entered the cafe, his gaze turning to trepid- ation as I approached the table. He stood up, placing an awkward kiss on my cheek, and politely offered me the other seat.

“Thanks for coming, Abs.” He said shyly, now hardly looking at me, before clearing his throat. “How are you?”

“I'm fine.” I caught my voice losing the confident abruptness I’d been practicing. I signaled to the waiter and ordered a latte – something that could be finished quickly so I could get out of there. I wasn’t about to indulge in any long, friendly breakfasts with Josh.

His eyes were red rimmed with grey bags underneath, as though he hadn't had much sleep in some time. He took a deep breath and I prepared myself for his speech.

“I'm really sorry, Abby, for leaving like that.” He swallowed. “I'm not going to expect you to take me back, but I will do anything to make it up to you.”

I quickly took his pause to speak. “You never told me why you left.”

He looked down into his cup before meeting my eyes again. “I got scared. And this opportunity came up and I just took it.”

“Scared?” I didn’t understand. “Scared of what? Of me? Of us?”

“All that.” He took a sip of his espresso and appeared to relax, now that it was clear I wasn’t going to cause a scene or throw my drink in his face.

I sucked in my breath. Here he was right in front of me and I was beginning to feel the way I had been dreading. I’d missed the way he looked at me; the way his hair stood up, reminding me of how I used to run my hand along it; his broad shoulders carrying his muscular arms, which used to hold me as we lay in bed together. One look at him and, frustratingly, all my fantasies about yelling at him and telling him I never wanted to see him again had dissipated into the electrically charged air between us. I tried not to look at him, as each time I stole a glance all my emotions were in danger of brimming to the surface. Thankfully he took my lack of eye contact for contempt.

“I meant it when I said I still loved you.” His voice was as low as his gaze.

“I'm seeing someone.” I blurted out.

“I was wondering about that.” He said calmly, though a wounded expression flashed briefly across his face. “I kind of expected that you probably were by now, and that I’d be too late.”


My Book Review:

What's a girl to do when her love life is in a rut? Create a love spell, of course!

Twenty-five year old Abby Williams is brokenhearted after her longtime boyfriend Josh dumps her. With the help of a little Wiccan love spell, Abby gets a much needed spark in the romance department.

Abby's cousin Luke introduces her to his bandmate Scott, a super hot bassist, and they begin a casual sexual relationship until Abby starts to have stronger feelings for him. Scott is known to be a womanizer, so Abby protects herself from getting hurt again by dumping Scott for her co-worker Sean, and if that isn't enough, her love life gets even more complicated when her ex-boyfriend Josh wants her back!

It seems like this love spell has worked a little bit too well as Abby finds herself in the middle of a love triangle and has to make a choice of which guy is the right one for her.

Flirting With Magick is a light, fun and flirty tale about the ups and downs of relationships. Author Leigh Bennett weaves an entertaining tale mixed with romance and humor written in the first person narrative that follows the trials and tribulations of Abby Williams as she navigates her way to find true love.

I really enjoyed reading this story, it can easily be read in one sitting. I couldn't help but become captivated by Abby's journey, it was full of surprising twists and turns that kept me enthralled. The characters are realistic, flawed and easy to relate to, they leap off the pages with their witty dialogue and humorous interactions. The sexy male characters are intriguing, each of them had me grinning, I couldn't decide which one I liked the most! This sassy storyline realistically portrays the ups and downs in relationships, it has a nice mixture of sweet romance, emotions and a tantalizing bit of naughty sex scenes that keeps you wanting more.

Flirting With Magick is a thoroughly entertaining story with a fun romantic/chick lit twist!


RATING: 4 STARS ****




Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway

Win A $20 Amazon Gift Card

Contest Dates: April 22 - May 13, 2013


Everyone who leaves a comment on Flirting With Magick by Leigh Bennett ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Flirting With Magick before May 13 and sends their receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com, will get five bonus entries.



Tour Participant Schedule



April 22 – Nina D’Angelo – Q&A & Excerpt
April 23- Suz’s Space- Guest Post
April 24 – Kerri Williams – Review, Q&A & Excerpt
April 25 – Chick Lit Club Connect – Guest Post
April 29 – Novel Girl – Excerpt
April 30 – Baubles, Bubbles & Bags Style File – Excerpt
May 1- Baubles, Bubbles & Bags Style File – Q&A
May 2 – Dr. Pepper Diva – Guest Post
May 7 – Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review, Q&A & Excerpt
May 8 – Chick Lit Plus – Review
May 9 – The Phantom Paragrapher – Review & Guest Post
May 10 – Samantha March – Q&A & Excerpt
May 13 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt



4 comments:

  1. Great way to close out the tour!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Samantha, this was a fun story to read. Thank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event.

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  2. This guest post was fun to write. Thank you for having me and for being a part of my tour, and for taking the time to read and review my book :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Leigh! Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event. :)

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